The search committee is chaired by Clough and also includes faculty representative for athletics Dan Schrage, alumni association president Joe Irwin, former Tech football player Chuck Easley and Student Government Association president David Anderson.

No timetable has been announced for a hire to be named.

Former Tech player and football coach Bill Curry has said he is interested in the job. Former Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Cam Bonifay, also a former Tech player, already has applied for the job.

ATHENS - Funeral services for former Georgia football player Jimmy Harper, a starter on the Bulldogs' 1980 national championship team, will be held today.

The services are scheduled for 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Eastman.

Harper died following a short illness last Saturday. The cause of death was believed to be a blood clot. He was 44.

Harper was an offensive lineman for the Bulldogs from 1980-83, helping block for 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker.

During Harper's career, the Bulldogs went 43-4-1 and won three Southeastern Conference titles.

Harper, a native of Eastman, earned All-SEC honors in 1981 and 1982.

BellSouth Classic moves to May date

AUGUSTA - After nine years, maybe Tiger Woods will finally go back to the TPC at Sugarloaf to defend his 1998 BellSouth Classic victory.

The PGA Tour released the substantive part of its revamped 2007 schedule on Friday, and the regular stop in Duluth got its wish and was officially moved away from the weather-plagued week leading into the Masters Tournament.

The 2007 BellSouth Classic will be played May 17-20, resuming its position in the week after The Players Championship. The new post-Florida swing lead-in to the Masters will be the Shell Houston Open.

- Morris News Service

GSU's Motte to play in all-star game

STATESBORO - Georgia Southern's Chad Motte, a two-time All-America offensive guard pick from Arab, Ala., accepted an invitation to the Las Vegas All-American Classic. The fifth annual game, which will showcase standout seniors from across the country, will take place at 4:30 p.m. today.

The 6-foot-4, 304-pound Motte, who will represent the East team, is one of two Southern Conference representatives scheduled to play. The other is Furman linebacker William Freeman.

Trooper Taylor, who had been coaching the running backs, has been reassigned to receivers to replace fired assistant Pat Washington, coach Phillip Fulmer announced.

Braves sign Bennett to minor-league deal

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves added another name to their spring competition for spots in their bullpen when they agreed to terms with right-hander Jeff Bennett on a minor-league contract.

Bennett, 25, appeared in 60 games with Milwaukee in 2004. He was 1-5 with a 4.79 ERA. He spent the 2005 season with the Brewers' minor-league team in Nashville, where he was 2-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 13 saves.

Financial terms of the one-year contract with Bennett were not disclosed.

GSU baseball tickets on sale

STATESBORO - Season tickets are on sale for the upcoming Georgia Southern baseball season. The Eagles are scheduled to play 30 games on 29 dates at J.I. Clements Stadium.

A reserved chairback season ticket is $100. An adult general admission season ticket is $70; GSU faculty/staff and senior citizens is $55 for seating in general admission and youth general admission (ages 3-12) is $35.

The athletic department is also offering a season ticket flex plan with seating in general admission, giving fans the opportunity to choose which games they want to attend. A 20-game flex plan costs $50, while a 10-game flex plan is $30.

The Eagles open the season Feb. 4-5 at home against North Florida. Game times are 1:30 p.m. both days.

New nickname for West Georgia: Wolves

CARROLLTON - West Georgia dropped its Braves nickname in favor of Wolves in a move to abide by NCAA regulations.

Athletic director Ed Murphy said the school's teams will be called the Braves through this academic year. The new name will be used at the beginning of fall semester.